Personal Letters

Personal Letters :

Despite the invention of telecommunications like telephone, fax, telegraph and even videophone, the simple letter types or hand-written on paper remains the most popular means of communication for social, cultural, technical, official, administrative and commercial purposes. The reason is not far to find. It is said that the style is the manand through the language used by usreveal our motives, inclinations and the degree of emotions we wish t convey. A laconic clipped telegram has no feeling for it only conveys facts and figures.

Today, almost 80 percent of the world’s mail is in English and it is vital for our existence and success to master the art of letter-writing. The techniques to be adopted are self-evident in those pages in this site. The style of the address, the format for the date, leave-taking are in the numerous specimens in this book. Nevertheless, an overall statement may be made about the salient features of letter-writing.

The name of the place and the date are written on the ledt-top of the letter. The person addressed is also to be on the left side just above DEAR SIR.

Wishing You All The BestBye for NowWaiting Anxiously For Your ReplyYours in AnticipationExpecting A Favourable ReplyHoping To Receive A Favourable Consideration

As the case may be and the as the situation demands.

Use of Paper and Pen :

The paper and ink should be properly selected because they give an impression of the person or the company sending the letter, Inferior quality paper and poor lettering on letterhead tell that the write is not much worth consideration. Use a type-writer with good letters and corbon paper. In the west, hand-written letters are preferred when applying for a job. The hand-written is analysed for the applicant’s character by graphologists. The employer company lays much importance to this analysis. Friendly letters and other informal letters are best written by hand and these should be neat and legible and free frm inkstains and scribbing.

The Tone of The Letter :

One must learn the art of putting one’s true intentions into a letter. We must learn to convey our annoyance, our joy and our desire to threaten and to what degree. This is best learnt by reading the numerous samples of this book and practising writing letters. Letters must be laconic and brief especially business letters. No one has time to wade through stereotyped phrases like hereunto and as per your kind consideration. Come to the point directly. In early days, when letters were carried by horse carriage or even pigeons, letters were long-winded and ornamental. They were little autobiographies. Today, we live in a fast-moving world when thousands of messages travel simultaneously to a company. A long letter would be put away in the waiting tray. But despite its brevity, the letter must never lose its personal touch. Even in formal business correspondence, much goodwill is earned through polite tone. Never estrange a client or partner by brash threatening. A firm but polite warning is itself effective in the case of the worst defaulter. In personal letters, introduce terms of familiarity and intimacy through details.

This page contains numerous practical letters. They are what you need to express in all walks of life. You may pick up ideas from a number of the letters and use them in any mix you like. WE wish you all success.